Every spring, vets see a wave of dogs with the same problems. Scratching. Licking. Slow to stand. Stiff after the first walk.

And every spring, owners bring them in saying the same thing: "I thought it was just the weather."

Sometimes it is. More often, it isn't.

The problem with spring is that it gives us a convenient excuse. Warmer days, more pollen, muddier walks - it's easy to explain away almost any change in behaviour. But some of what we dismiss as "just spring" is actually the early signal of something that gets worse if you ignore it.

Here are three behaviours to watch this spring - and how to tell the difference between normal and not.

Every dog scratches. That's normal. What's not normal is a dog who scratches constantly. Who wakes themselves up scratching. Who's created a bald patch behind the ear or on the belly. Who's broken skin.

Spring is peak season for environmental allergies - pollen, grass, mites, insect bites. Dogs can be allergic to all of them. And unlike humans, who sneeze and get watery eyes, dogs usually show allergies through their skin.

Spring also brings out fleas. The first real wave of the year tends to hit in April and May as temperatures rise. If your dog's scratching has ramped up suddenly, check for them before assuming allergies.

When to act: Scratching that disrupts daily life, visible skin damage, or any sign of infection (redness, heat, discharge) needs a vet check. Mild seasonal itching can often be managed with better grooming, dietary support, and flea prevention - but only if that's what it actually is.

Dogs lick their paws. That's also normal - to a point.

Excessive paw licking is one of the most commonly missed symptoms in dogs. Owners see it as a quirky habit. Something they do when they're bored or settling down.

Sometimes it is. Often, it isn't.

Why it matters in spring: pollen and grass allergens collect on paws more than anywhere else. Your dog walks through them, lies on them, then spends the evening trying to lick them off. The licking irritates the skin, which causes more itching, which causes more licking. It's a cycle that can get out of control quickly.

There's also the gut connection. Chronic paw licking is often linked to food sensitivities or gut imbalance. If your dog's paws are persistently a problem despite allergy management, what's going on inside might matter more than what's going on outside.

When to act: If you're hearing them lick at night, seeing rust-coloured staining, or noticing raw skin between the toes, it's not just a habit. Wipe paws after every walk with plain water, and if it doesn't resolve in a week or two, it's worth investigating further.

Spring means longer walks. After months of short winter outings, suddenly they're back to 45-minute loops through the park. It's natural to expect some fatigue.

But fatigue and stiffness aren't the same thing.

Here's the tricky part: the exact pattern of "stiff at the start, loosens up, then stiff again after rest" is the classic early sign of joint issues - including osteoarthritis. And it often shows up first in spring, when dogs are suddenly doing more after a sedentary winter.

Owners dismiss it because the dog seems fine once they're moving. "They warm up, they're back to themselves." But that warming-up phase is the symptom. A healthy joint doesn't need to warm up.

It's also worth knowing: by age seven, an estimated 1 in 5 dogs shows some signs of arthritis. By age eight, the numbers climb steeply. The early signs are subtle - and the earlier you catch them, the more you can do.

When to act: If your dog is hesitating before stairs, slow to stand after resting, or visibly stiff after walks that didn't used to bother them, don't wait. Joint damage is progressive. Support given early works better than treatment given late.

The Pattern That Ties It Together

Notice what these three behaviours have in common.

They're all things we see every day. They're all easy to normalise. And they're all conditions that get worse - sometimes much worse - if you wait too long to address them.

Spring doesn't cause these issues. It just makes them visible. Longer walks expose stiff joints. Higher pollen loads expose sensitive skin. More time outside exposes everything your dog has been quietly dealing with all winter.

That's actually useful information. Spring gives you a chance to catch things early.

What to Do Now

Watch them move. Spend a few days actively observing how they get up, walk, and rest. Note anything that's different from six months ago.

Check their skin. Part the fur in a few places - belly, behind the ears, along the spine. Look for redness, scabs, or flakes. Smell the skin. Healthy skin has very little odour.

Pay attention to the patterns. Is the licking worse at night? Is the stiffness worse after long walks? Is the scratching worse on certain surfaces? Patterns point to causes.

Don't wait for it to get bad. The mistake most owners make isn't missing the signs. It's seeing them, assuming they'll pass, and waiting until they don't. By then, you're managing a problem instead of preventing one.

Your dog can't tell you something's wrong. But they show you. Every day. You just have to know what you're looking for.

P.S. The goal isn't to worry. It's to notice. Most of what you catch early can be managed. Most of what you catch late becomes a much bigger deal.